There's a moment in every bass fisherman's life when you realize you've gone too far. For me, it was when I showed up to the lake with three bass rod and reel combos, a backpack tackle box with cooler, and somehow still forgot my actual lunch because the cooler was full of soft plastics.
My wife calls it an obsession. I call it being prepared. The fish haven't weighed in yet, but I'm pretty sure they're impressed by my organization.
Let me tell you about the gear, the moments, and the glorious ridiculousness of chasing green fish with expensive sticks.
The Combo Collection
It started simply enough. I needed one angler rod and reel. Just one. A simple angler rod and reel for casual weekends.
That was three years ago. I now own more angler rod and reel setups than I have fingers. The angler rod and reel combos multiply when I'm not looking. I swear they breed in the garage.
The problem with angler rod and reel combos is that each one serves a "different purpose." This angler rod and reel is for topwater. This angler rod and reel is for cranking. This angler rod and reel is for when the first two aren't working. This angler rod and reel is just because it was on sale.
I brought four angler rod and reel combos to the bank last week. Caught one fish. Used one rod. The other three watched enviously from their rod holders.
The Shop That Knows Me By Name
Every town has a b fishing tackle shop. Mine is called b fishing tackle, and the owner greets me by name. "Here for more b fishing tackle?" he asks. "You know it," I reply, already reaching for my wallet.
The best part about b fishing tackle shops is the advice. Where to fish, what they're biting, which lure color the bass prefer during a full moon in October. The folks at b fishing tackle know everything.
Last week at b fishing tackle, I spent an hour discussing jerkbaits with a guy who'd been fishing the same lake for 40 years. He caught one fish that day. I caught zero. But we had great conversation and bought more b fishing tackle, so really, we won.
The Backpack Evolution
Bank fishing requires mobility. That's why I invested in a backpack tackle box cabelas special. This beautiful backpack tackle box cabelas creation holds more tackle than seems physically possible.
The backpack tackle box cabelas design is genius. Open it up and BOOM—layers of plastic worms, hooks, weights, tools, and the one hook that's been there for three years that I'm scared to touch because it might be rusty.
But I wanted more. I needed COLD storage. That's when I discovered the backpack tackle box with cooler.
Oh, the backpack tackle box with cooler. Half tackle organization, half beverage preservation. The backpack tackle box with cooler lets me carry 40 types of soft plastics AND keep my sodas cold. It's the greatest invention since the fishing rod.
The only downside? The backpack tackle box with cooler is heavy. Like, "why is my back hurting at 10 AM" heavy. But when you open that backpack tackle box with cooler at noon and pull out a cold drink while your buddies drink warm lake water, you're the hero.
The REI Adventure
Sometimes fishing meets hiking. That's when you need a backpacking fishing pole rei special. The lightweight backpacking fishing pole rei sells is perfect for carrying miles into the wilderness to catch fish that have never seen a lure.
I took my backpacking fishing pole rei on a 5-mile hike last summer. The backpacking fishing pole rei rod collapsed nicely into my pack. I felt so professional. So prepared.
I reached the alpine lake. Assembled my backpacking fishing pole rei. Cast out. Immediately hooked a tree behind me.
The fish watched. The mountains watched. I sat there, untangling my backpacking fishing pole rei, wondering why I'd carried this thing 5 miles to embarrass myself in front of nature.
But I caught a fish eventually. The backpacking fishing pole rei performed beautifully. I took a photo, pretended I was in a magazine, and hiked back down feeling like a wilderness expert.
The Fly Fishing Confession
I'll admit something embarrassing. Despite years of fishing, I know only the basic equipment for fly fishing. Just the basic equipment for fly fishing. Rod, reel, line, flies, and the ability to look confused while casting.
I bought the basic equipment for fly fishing kit and headed to a trout stream. First cast? Beautiful. Second cast? Also beautiful. Third cast? Hooked myself in the back of the head.
The basic equipment for fly fishing does not include a helmet, which seems like an oversight.
I spent an hour with that basic equipment for fly fishing, looking like I was fighting an invisible octopus. A real fly fisherman walked by, saw my struggles, and kindly said, "Nice day for it." Translation: "You look ridiculous."
But I kept at it. Because that's what you do with basic equipment for fly fishing—you look silly until you don't.
The Technique Collection
Bass are complicated creatures. They require different approaches, which means you need bass fishing rods for different techniques.
Let me list my bass fishing rods for different techniques:
Flipping stick (for flipping)、Spinnerbait rod (for spinnerbaits)、Crankbait rod (for crankbaits)、Topwater rod (for topwater)、Frog rod (for frogs)
"I don't know what I'm doing today" rod (for everything else)
My bass fishing rods for different techniques collection takes up half my garage. My wife asked if I really need separate rods for every technique. I explained that using a crankbait rod for frogs would be like using a screwdriver to hammer a nail. She wasn't convinced, but the bass fishing rods for different techniques understand.
The Local Shop Life
Nothing beats a good bass fishing tackle shop. The smell of plastics, the walls covered in lures, the guy behind the counter who's been fishing since before you were born.
My favorite bass fishing tackle shop has a cat that sleeps on the scale. You pick up lures, the cat judges you. You ask about local spots, the cat judges you. You buy something, the cat continues judging you.
The bass fishing tackle shop cat has seen more fishermen than I've seen fish. He knows our secrets. He knows we don't need another spinnerbait. He judges silently.
But I keep going to that bass fishing tackle shop. Because where else can you spend an hour discussing worm colors and leave with a $200 receipt and zero regrets?
The Online Rabbit Hole
When I can't visit the bass fishing tackle shop, I browse bass fishing tackle websites. Dangerous territory.
Bass fishing tackle websites have everything. Lures you've never heard of. Reels that cost more than your first car. "Limited edition" colors that you ABSOLUTELY NEED.
I spent three hours on bass fishing tackle websites last night. Added $400 to my cart. Closed the browser. Opened it again. Added $400 to my cart. Closed it again.
Finally, I bought one lure. Just one. From one of the many bass fishing tackle websites.
That one lure cost $15. Shipping was $8. I spent $23 to tell myself I have self-control.
The Combo Deals
Sometimes you need to simplify. That's when you buy bass rod and reel combos.
The beauty of bass rod and reel combos is that someone else did the matching for you. Rod and reel, together forever, like peanut butter and jelly. Bass rod and reel combos take the guesswork out of "will this reel balance on this rod?"
I bought a bass rod and reel combo last month and immediately caught three bass. Coincidence? Probably. But I'm telling everyone it's because the bass rod and reel combo is magic.
Now I have more bass rod and reel combos than I need. But when you find a good bass rod and reel combo, you buy it. For backup. For emergencies. For "what if I break one" scenarios that never happen.
The Persistent Truth
Here's what I've learned from years of collecting angler rod and reel setups, visiting the b fishing tackle shop, and filling my backpack tackle box with cooler:
The fish don't care. They really don't. But YOU care. You care about the backpacking fishing pole rei that took you to that mountain lake. You care about the basic equipment for fly fishing that made you look silly until it didn't. You care about the bass fishing rods for different techniques that fill your garage and your heart.
Fishing isn't about catching. It's about standing in beautiful places, holding beautiful gear, and occasionally hooking yourself in the head.
So next time you're browsing bass fishing tackle websites at 2 AM, just remember: you're not alone. We're all out here, buying lures we don't need, filling backpack tackle box cabelas bags with things we'll never use, and loving every minute of it.
Tight lines, and may your backpack tackle box with cooler always have a cold one waiting!